15. Letter to doctex

Thank you for the opportunity to be of help. We will concentrate on
the scheduled updates system first so that the Society can immediately
benefit from its drive for computerization.

In two weeks, I will show you a system that an encoder can use to keep
track of Jesuits' periodically-scheduled requirements. Upon opening,
the software will display a list of Jesuits who have unfulfilled
requirements. The encoder can search this list, check off fulfilled
requirements, or edit any of the data displayed.

This prototype will help you demonstrate the benefits of
computerization while giving the Society something to work with right
away. In addition, your valuable feedback will help improve the
software.

13. Met with docprex

We'll start out with scheduled updates. Jesuits have to be reminded to
update documents. The period between updates varies per person (age
bracket and custom). It may be a good idea to support different kinds
of documents, too.

They need something to last years, so we can't turn it over to the
students. Pair programming might be a good idea - forces my code to be
readable.

Actually, if it's Java, it can run on their own computers, and then
just send the data to a central server every so often. (version
2... =) ) We need to make this as painless to run as possible, which
means no external database. It also needs to be as paranoid as heck
when it comes to saving.

6. iKnow

<blockquote>
iKnow is a personal knowledge processor, a tool for bringing order to
collections of information and for revealing relationships between
pieces of information. It is designed to help you know what you know,
and to see deeper into what you have.

Essentially, iKnow is a text editor wrapped in a collection of
organizational and navigational tools. Together, they make a
collection of information worth more than the sum of its parts.
The value-added bonus comes from the insights you contribute, the
organization you impose, and the associations you define.

iKnow is a Chalk Dust application, part of the Open Slate
project. Please visit http://openslate.sourceforge.net/ for
information about Open Slate and Chalk Dust.
</blockquote>

5. "Now Where Was I? New Ways to Revisit Web Sites"

Electronic bookmarks were hailed as a premier tool for recalling Web sites
and pages important to users, but their use has fallen by the wayside. The
University of Maryland's Ben Bederson calls the bookmark concept fatally
flawed, "because it assumes in advance that this is a page that you want to ...
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2004-6/0123f.html#item12

4. "Disabled to Get Greater Access to Linux"

The Free Standards Group says it has established a task force to develop
accessibility standards for Linux. Scott <nop>McNeil, executive director of the
Free Standards Group, says a standard version will make it easier for Linux
developers to develop software and hardware for disabled people; Linux ...
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2004-6/0126m.html#item11

3. CS1 assignments in Java

<blockquote>
I've developed a Java library for my CS1 course
that SIGCSE members may be interested in using
for assignments. It includes:

- An implementation of Karel the Robot that is

more full-featured than most. We use it to get
students started in using objects, extending
classes, stepwise refinement, practise
with control structures, and to help understand
polymorphism.

- A set of simplified input and output classes. One

novel feature are methods such as intIsAvailable().
Such methods allow students to write robust code with
error checking.

- A number of user interfaces, each accompanied by a

Java interface. Students write a class to implement
the interface and pass an instance to the UI. The
result is a complete and satisfying program.

<ul>
<li> A combination lock: students write a class to determine when
the lock is locked or unlocked. It only unlocks if the correct
combination is passed as parameters. Students practice instance
variables and parameters.
<li>An AM/FM radio: Students write a "tuner" class. It remembers the
current frequency, tunes up or down, seeks up or down, and has
presets. Students practice with instance variables, looping,
parameters.
<li>A equation grapher: Students write a class implementing an eval
function. The provided user interface displays the corresponding
graph. Three different Java interfaces allow practice with only
parameters, parameters and instance variables (for the coefficients)
or parameters and arrays (arbitrary degree polynomials).
<li>An image transformation program: Students write a class to
transform an image stored as a 2D array of integers. The provided user
interface reads the image from a file and calls the appropriate
transformation methods in the student class. Transformations can
include rotating, scaling, brighten, flip, mirror, etc. I believe a
similar assignment was included in the SIGCSE 2003 Nifty Assignments
panel.
<li>A marks "spreadsheet": gives students practise with both 1D and 2D
arrays. The 1D arrays store student and assignment names. The 2D array
stores the marks.
</ul>

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